What Should You Expect The Police To Do After Arriving At The Accident Scene?
According to Florida law, you are required to call the police if an accident results in injury or death. Also, if the property damage from an accident appears to be at least $500, ensure you call the police. If you have never been in a car accident, you might not be familiar with what police officers do after they arrive at an accident scene. In the following section of this article, get to learn about what you should expect a police officer to do after arriving at an accident scene.
What Happens When a Police Officer Arrives at an Accident Scene?
Generally, two of the primary duties of an officer who comes to an accident scene are;
- assessing the accident scene
- documenting findings in an official report
First, a police officer will ensure that everyone involved in the accident has been moved out of harm’s way and is safe. Once they have assessed the accident scene and ensured the safety of everyone involved in the accident, a police officer will then start gathering information.
Assuming everyone involved in the accident is safe, a police officer will take statements from the drivers of the vehicles involved in the accident. When giving your statement to a police officer, make sure you are honest and only stick to the facts. Remember that everything you say could end up in the official police report, and it is usually hard to argue with the information written in a police report.
Apart from speaking to the drivers involved in a car accident, police officers also speak to witnesses. If a police officer finds a witness or witnesses at an accident scene, they will take their personal information, contact information, and statements. Usually, witness statements are also included in police reports. Because witnesses are generally not obligated by law to remain at the scene of an accident, they may be contacted later by a police officer if they leave their contact information with the police officer. A driver’s attorney or insurance company can also contact a witness later after a car accident. However, it’s important to note that statements gathered from witnesses later on after an accident might be considered hearsay when introduced as evidence.
If a police officer has reason to believe that one or more of the parties involved in an accident was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash, they may conduct field sobriety tests. Suppose a test suggests that an individual is under the influence. In that case, that individual may be arrested or transported to a hospital for a blood test to confirm whether they are sober.
Additionally, even though it is generally your responsibility to take pictures at an accident scene, a police officer may also decide to take pictures. It is important to note that photos taken at an accident scene by a police officer may be sent to the parties involved in the accident or their legal representatives upon request.
Legal Help Is Available
After a car accident, stay at the scene and call the police. From there, call an attorney so you can learn about your legal options. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm can guide you through the process of recovering compensation for your injuries. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the West Palm Beach, Miami, Ocala, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers, Daytona Beach, and Bradenton areas.
Resource:
flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2020/316.065
